Wright disappears behind a shelf of books, and I plop down on my seat, planting my elbow on the desk and rub my forehead.

The things I said were wrong, I never should have talked to him like that. I was pushing my luck way too hard but why didn't he lose his temper? I groan. He's so confusing. But as unacceptable as my behavior was, I feel better, not as numb as I was before Wright showed up.

I study my fingernails. Professor Spencer Wright... why do you have to be so complicated?

I sigh and shake my head, leaning into the chair, and stare at the window. The gathering grey clouds darken the area I'm sitting.

I'm tempted to call Everly, to find out her reasons and for how long had they been sleeping with each other behind my back, but I hold myself. I doubt she'll even answer my call. And if she doesn't, I'll be crushed, therefore I rather not try.

I take out my phone and open Instagram.

Ashely was right, all these famous accounts, like vogue and whatnot, have her picture posted. Not that I'm surprised, Everly loved doing photoshoots. Looks like some things never change.

I scroll until I find a picture of both of them. Everly's wearing a white dress, her golden hair tumbling down her shoulders, and her hand is pressed underneath her belly to emphasize its size. Alex has placed his palm on her shoulder, she's looking down while he's beaming.

I scowl at my screen. My eyes widen when I read the caption under the post. 'Celebrating the collaborating of two of the biggest companies with a ring and a baby, click the link in the bio to find out more.' I narrow my eyes. Against my better judgment, I press on the username and tap on the link.

A new page opens and I scan the page, details of their engagement ceremony taking place right after the baby shower with multiple pictures stun me.

They're getting married!

I shut my phone and slam it on the table.

You've gotta be fucking shitting me.

I press the heels of my palms to my eyes until those weird white shapes appear.

I try to cry to let go of this building tension in me but I fail. The betrayal stings way worse than I expected. Being tossed aside, the fact that they're living their normal, lavishing, lives as if nothing has happened hurts.

But the truth is, nothing happened to any of them. It was only us.

My insides crumble, I hate Benjamin Stewart. I despise him. And one day, I will make him pay ten folds over for what he did to us.

I get to my feet and start looking around for a book. Eventually finding an art book, I pull it out and spend a while staring at the pictures in it.

The pitter-patter of rain hitting the windowpane makes me sigh and slide the book back in its place.

I sling my backpack over one shoulder and amble out of the library. By the time I'm near the entrance of the building, the rain has stopped and I smile to myself. Maybe today's not that bad anyway.

I cross the campus ground and note the couples holding hands, multiple groups of girls scattered around the place are giggling. I clutch the strap of my bag tighter as my heart clenches.

Everly is getting married.

Memories of the times, Everly, Olivia, and I used to breeze through magazines, talk about our magical weddings, the dresses we'd wear, the destinations, even the flowers we'd use. My chest caves and I drag my feet on the ground as my shoulders slump.

And today I found out about my best friend's marriage through social media.

I leave the university and start down the street but halt a few paces away. I clench my jaw. Why is everyone treating us like the bad guys!

Benjamin Stewart stole our everything, and everyone's patting his back. That's it, I'm done.

I swing my bag in front of myself and pull out my cell phone. Simmering with anger, I scroll through my contacts and tap on Alex's name. I press the phone to my ear, holding it so tightly my fingers begin to hurt.

It rings a few times before it stops. He declined my call. Fucking spineless asshole.

With wide eyes and nostrils flaring, I glower at my phone for a beat before scrolling again and tapping on Everly's number.

I tap my foot on the ground as the line goes on and no one picks up. I'm about to give up when she finally answers.

"Gracie?"

I fist my hands, nails digging into my palm. "Hey, Everly."

"Hi," she uncertainly replies.

After the court, the day we officially lost even our last dime, she hasn't talked to me. She didn't even bother to call me once. "I saw your photoshoots, you looked so pretty."

A breathy laugh stumbles out of her and I can vividly imagine her painted eyebrows knitting together with discomfort. "Oh, that, thanks."

"So you're gonna be a mom. When are you due?"

"A couple of weeks from now."

Anger flares up in me. "That's great, really. I'm so happy for you." I say through gritted teeth and decide to let loose of the arrow. "Although I don't why it surprised me, of course, other than the fact that you didn't tell me you were sleeping with my ex well before things ended between us, since we were kids, you were the only one who was the most ecstatic about getting married and having babies. And you never hesitated to show that to everyone, sleeping with any guy who had the same or more digits in his bank account than you. I'm so happy that your quest has finally come to an end."

I inhale sharply and push a strand of my hair behind my ear. "But Everly, I can't imagine how you would look with that big belly in a wedding dress. It must be really hard looking like a pufferfish in your wedding dress, especially for a girl like you who always fussed over her weight."

I can't help but smile smugly. I'm being petty, but I need to reflect my anger or else it'll consume me. Slowly I start walking, while Everly breathes heavily on the other side, a clear giveaway of how much I've pissed her off.

"You fucking bitch, is that why you called? Tell me what you want? Is it money? Job? What? I'll give it to you just stay the fuck away from me and Alex."

If she was in front of me, I would have punched her in the face and broken her snub nose. Instead, I stomp down the sidewalk. "I'll die but never take a penny from a pathetic loser like you.  Who the hell do you think you are? Offering me money, and what the actual fuck, I'm not like you assholes to live off of blackmailing and shit. You wanna know why I called, I'm furious! My life went to shambles and you slut, slept with my boyfriend. Fuck that, you didn't even call me once, you tossed you me aside, our twenty years of friendship."

She sighs. "Listen, Rae, you know how things work. You would have done the same if our places would have swapped, so don't bitch about it. And I didn't call? Maybe it's because you've been a pain in our asses this entire time. Ever thought of that? Wanna know something? You're one of the shittiest persons I've ever known."

I bark a bitter laugh. "Oh really? Ironic, because I wasn't shitty when you were spending my money, enjoying my level of luxury."

"Gracie, bad people always end up alone and you were one of the worsts."

"Yeah, obviously, learned from the master of asshats."

She huffs. "Tell me how much do you want to stay away from my life?" Her words sting more than I'd ever like to admit.

I gulp down the bitter taste at the back of my throat. "I'm not gonna waste my time with explaining things far beyond your comprehension level. But do tell to your half-ass fiancé, that he doesn't need to be afraid of my calls, I can never be as big of an asshole as he is."

I inhale sharply to compose myself before continuing, "Happy being a mother. From the bottom of my heart, I hope your child doesn't turn out to be like either of you. And I wish with every single fiber in my body, your wedding planner screws up your wedding so bad, you won't be able to look at anyone for at least three months. And remember bitch, nothing lasts forever, I was Alex's first choice, he came to you because I'm not rich, but watch out, the moment he finds a richer and prettier girl than you, he'll toss you aside too. Bye bitch." I hang up without waiting for her response.

Breathing heavily, I march down the street, my insides tremble from anger. I can't wait to get home, shower and sleep.

A droplet of rain hits my face and I groan. I'm still twenty minutes away from my apartment.

As I continue walking, the frequency of rain falling on me keeps growing and Everly's words replay in my head. Who the hell does she think she is? Treating me like a beggar.

I fist my hands and pick up my pace but my phone rings again, making me halt. I glance down and smile as I see Melody's ID flashing on my screen.

"Hey," I answer with a smile as I keep on going.

"Uh, hi," Melody's hesitant voice comes from the other line and I frown, slowing my pace.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm so sorry, but Rae..."

I groan, the exhaustion of day finally showing itself. "Just spit it out."

"Oh God, I'm so sorry, this idiot Jack, he wanted to open the door, but he broke the key."

"What?" I halt and furrow my brows.

"The key broke and now half of it is inside the keyhole."

Oh my God. I rub my forehead, as my head starts aching.

"I'm so sorry. He's looking for a locksmith but apparently everyone has closed early because of tonight's rainstorm or something."

Rainstorm! "What?"

"Don't tell me you didn't know? Gosh, Rae, it's all over the news. Don't come to the apartment, you can't get in. Leave campus as soon as you can and go to your parents' house, I'm going to Jack's too. I'm so sorry Rae."

"Whatever, it's okay," I mumble, looking blankly at a tree a few paces away from me.

We hang up and I stare at the far distance. A rainstorm?

I resist the urge to scream. Whirling around, I survey the general direction of the subway station, but the strength to put one foot after the other does not appear. I flump down on the curb, suddenly too exhausted to move, think or do anything.

Mentally, I can't put up with going to my parents. For tonight, I didn't want anything more than curling in my bed, under the covers, and staring at the window.

The rain falls harder, drenching me much sooner than expected, and yet I can't bring myself to move.

The lamppost on my left turns on as eventually, the sky goes black. I can't even muster up the willpower to glance at my watch.

Everly's words go round circles. The way she spoke to me, offering me money to get rid of me. Never have I felt more worthless in my life.

I hug my bag to my chest as the bone-deep chill settles in me while I stare blankly at a spot on the uneven paved ground. Was I really a bad person?

Is that why I lost all my friends?

No, no, no. I was always by their side, aided them whenever they needed anything. I wasn't perfect, but I wasn't bad either.

Minutes, maybe even hours go by. Cars race down the street but I fail to register anything.

I can't swallow, my heart aches, my ribcage is pressing down too hard on my lungs. At this point, I rather have fake friends than be in this state.

A honk snaps me out of my daze. I blink multiple times until my surrounding comes into focus. And there it stands, the shiny black Mercedes Benz of none other than Professor Wright.

∞ ∞ ∞

Okay, this chapter was not supposed to be like this. When I was writing it this morning, in a spur of the moment it began moving in this direction and I thought it'll help with what's about to come later on... so yeah I went along with it, and I'm really sorry xD I know you were expecting Gracie and Wright together (in fact I wanted to write those scenes too) but then the chapter would have been too long... so yeah, oops.

But I promise, the next few chapters (3-4, I'm guessing since I'm halfway through writing the next chapter and have a very vague idea) will only be Wright and Gracie, and hopefully, it'll be worth the wait and makeup for this little delay and change of direction.

So, this time, for real, tune in tomorrow for a chapter with only Gracie and Wright =) [I'm really excited XD]

Oh and a question, what are your thoughts on the length of the chapters? Are they too long? Too short?

Anyways, tell me your thoughts on this chapter? Everly and the things Gracie said and did... did you think she made a mistake by calling Everly? Was she wrong? or right?

Hope you enjoyed it. If so, don't forget to vote and comment your thoughts!

Lots of love, happy reading <3